The Lady with the Lamp and the Foxglove: Florence Nightingale’s Garden Inspiration
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
May 12, 1820
On this day, we celebrate the birth of Florence Nightingale (books about this person), English social reformer, statistician, and founder of modern nursing.
Known as "The Lady with the Lamp" during the Crimean War, Florence's compassion extended beyond the wards to the healing power of nature.
Can you picture young Florence, named after her birthplace of Florence, Italy, tending her own garden with her sister?
At the tender age of 13, Florence embarked on a botanical adventure with 77-year-old Margaret Stovin. Together, they collected and pressed over 100 different species of plants. Imagine the joy and wonder as they discovered each new bloom!
This charming story, featured in Richard Mendelsohn's 2008 book, paints a picture of a young girl whose love for nature would influence her future career. Today, these pressed flowers reside in the Natural History Museum in London, a testament to Florence's early appreciation for the natural world.
As an adult, Florence's love for nature deepened. She wrote:
Poetry and imagination begin life.
A child will fall on its knees on the gravel walk at the sight of a pink hawthorn in full flower, when it is by itself, to praise God for it.
Can you envision a child, overcome with wonder, kneeling before a blooming hawthorn?
In her nursing career, Florence recognized the therapeutic value of flowers, believing they boosted morale and aided in patient recovery. Her personal favorite? The stately foxglove.
Florence's connection to nature was nurtured by others, too. William Rathbone, founder of the Queen Victoria Jubilee Institute for Nurses, sent her a beautiful bouquet every week. Can you imagine the joy these flowers must have brought to the tireless nurse?
In 2020, plans were made to honor Florence with a garden at the Chelsea Flower Show, marking the 200th anniversary of her birth. The Florence Nightingale Garden - A Celebration of Modern Day Nursing debuted in 2021, featuring "Images from Florence Nightingale's pressed flower collection and echoes of her handwriting … on… the timber walls."
Picture the beauty of this garden, bridging past and present in a celebration of nursing and nature!
Today, Florence's legacy blooms on. The Florence Nightingale Museum in London celebrates her life and work, while gardeners can cultivate her memory with the Florence Nightingale rose - a fragrant, pale pink beauty.
As we reflect on Florence Nightingale's life, let us remember not only her contributions to nursing but also her deep appreciation for the healing power of nature.
Perhaps we can find inspiration in her story to cultivate our own gardens of compassion and healing.
